Written by Society Admin on 2026-09-22
Arne RSPB Reserve in Dorset – 19th September 2026
Birds . Field Trip . Natural HistoryJulian led a bird walk on this superb heathland and woodland (birch and oak woodland)site. There were 12 attendees, mostly members of the Hampshire or Ornithological Society but any one who was also a member of the RSPB could park for free. The weather was dull but dry and relatively warm. Of the birds there
Written by Society Admin on 2026-09-06
Peartree Green LNR 30th August
Insects . Natural History . Photography . Wild flowersAnother of our regular visits to Peartree Green LNR. A group of ten armed with cameras, beating trays, and sweep nets and being very careful to avoid all the dog excrement by the main path, searched for insects and other invertebrates. We added 9 invertebrate species to the reserve list, these included two recent arrival
Written by Society Admin on 2026-09-06
Southampton Old Cemetery 22nd August
Insects . Natural History . Wild flowersA group of eight of us were thankful for cooler but sunny weather for this Saturday morning stroll. Much of the flora had shrivelled up after 7 weeks with no rain up to 18th August. We were pleased to find some Orpine still in bloom but it was obvious that work is required to remove
Written by Society Admin on 2026-06-22
The Holt Bioblitz 6th June 2026
Natural History . UncategorizedA bioblitz was held at The Holt, near Upham, on Saturday 6th June. The weather was not promising but nevertheless it was a successful day. The early morning bird walk was wet and all present were glad to shelter for breakfast, but the sun came out briefly in late morning for the butterfly walk and
Written by Society Admin on 2026-06-22
Portsdown Hill 14th June 2026
Natural History . UncategorizedMark Trigwell led a group of seven westward along the south facing slopes of Portsdown Hill close to Fort Widley. The weather was warm, bright and muggy so some of us were pleased to tucking into cooling ice creams at the end. We met the warden who said that it was not worth looking at
Written by Society Admin on 2026-03-13
Shirley Pond Park at Lordsdale Greenway LNR 22nd February 2026
Birds . Bryophytes . Ferns . Flora . Insects . Natural HistoryA group of nine (seven SNHS members and two members invited from the Friends of Shirley Park) looked for wildlife between Old Mill Way and Dale Road in the new Lordsdale Greenway Local Nature Reserve. It rained most of the two hours but we carried on regardless. A particular highlight was the discovery of one
Written by Society Admin on 2026-03-13
Southampton Old Cemetery early spring walk 8th March 2026
Birds . Flora . Natural HistoryNine members and guests of the society and the Friends of Southampton Old Cemetery gathered for a short circuit of the 180-year old Victorian cemetery in dull weather conditions. We saw the expected mix of flora, including the first hybrid bluebells, and also lesser celandine, primrose, wood anemone, spring crocus, sweet violet and trees like
Written by mjcreighton on 2019-04-04
On not so little pines…
Natural History…do mighty Cedar trees grow. In this case, a Himalayan Cedar. Nature Note by Graham Manchip There is a tree in my local patch. I believe it to be a Himalayan Cedar Cedrus deodara around 30ft or more tall and, although I had seen the top, I had never seen the base as it was
Written by mjcreighton on 2019-02-03
A touch of summer…
Natural History . Photography…in frosty February. The opening of ‘Chasing Butterflies’ – a retrospective of John Vetterlein’s 13-year obsession with photographing butterflies – was absolutely heaving at the Harbour Lights Cinema in Southampton last evening. A selection of his best work is on display in the gallery space until the 27 February and covers common and less common
Written by mjcreighton on 2019-01-02
End of year party…
Natural HistoryThe common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a pretty gregarious animal. And even more sio when it comes to the huge flocks that appear from Novemeber to March or thereabouts. As we often do at Christmas, Jan and I took a trip to Ham Wall RSPB reserve in Somerset to see one of the biggest starling